William Somerset Maugham

Maugham's enchanting tale of secrets and fatal attraction The Magician is one of Somerset Maugham's most complex and perceptive novels. Running through it is the theme of evil, deftly woven into a story as memorable for its action as for its astonishingly vivid characters. In fin de siecle Paris, Arthur and Margaret are engaged to be married. Everyone approves and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves--until the sinister and repulsive Oliver Haddo appears.

The Magician

W. Somerset Maugham

"Though Aleister Crowley served, as I have said, as the model for Oliver Haddo, it is by no means a portrait of him. I made my character more striking in appearance, more sinister and more ruthless than Crowley ever was. I gave him magical powers that Crowley, though he claimed them, certainly never possessed. Crowley, however, recognized himself in the creature of my invention, for such it was, and wrote a full-page review of the novel in "Vanity Fair, " which he signed 'Oliver Haddo.' I did not read it, and wish now that I had. I daresay it was a pretty piece of vituperation, but probably, like his poems, intolerably verbose." -- W. Somerset Maugham

Sarah Escorsa

I first read The Magician when I was in my early 20s and revelled in all things gothic and dark, possibly with a hint of romanticism. I absolutely loved the book at the time and knew quite a few passages by heart. 

I recently decided to read The Magician again when I found out it was freely available in Kindle format. Well, it's almost been twenty years now since I first read it (!) and I must say I wasn't terribly impressed this time. Maugham is one of my favourite authors and I love is writing but it is quite uneven in The Magician, which I think is one of the main flaws of the book. I still like the story very much and the fact that it is quite a departure from the rest of Maugham's works makes it an original read. 

Hadn't it been for Maugham I probably would have given the book a two-star rating but I just can't give any of his book less than three stars :)

The Magician

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